Mr BONSON - 2004-08-24
I understand that baby barramundi are produced each year at the Northern Territory Aquaculture Centre. Can you advise what is being done with the excess juveniles from the centre?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The commercial barramundi farming industry is a success story for the Territory. Production this year has reached 700 tonnes, more than the wild catch. In the last year, we have seen an increase in production of 300% at the two farms at Adelaide River and Port Hurd at Bathurst Island.
Territory barramundi is now well known around the world. Barramundi from the Northern Territory was served at the Danish royal wedding. We export two tonnes of barramundi every week to the United States of America and command really high prices.
In the past few years, barramundi fingerlings have been produced and provided to the industry, but production sometimes exceeds demand. We have produced significant numbers of fingerlings, which remain at the centre as excess barramundi and we decided to restock dams, impoundments, and even Darwin Harbour. At Manton Dam, they have been restocked for a number of years - not very successfully, I might add, because some of the other barramundi swim downstream during the Wet Season. We have now installed a barrier net to stop the large fish migrating. In the past two months, we have stocked 50 000 fingerlings in specific areas where they can shelter from the larger fish. We also restocked 55 000 fingerlings at Lake Bennett, with the agreement of the owners, who will allow day trippers to fish at the lake, and we have provided 16 000 barra fingerlings in the impoundmentnear Mt Todd.
Before we stock a dam or impoundment, the barramundi are tested to make sure they are free from disease, and are always released in the area where the stock came from to ensure the genetic stock remains the same.
Recently, we put 45 000 barra fingerlings into Darwin Harbour to enhance fishing opportunities. By restocking the dams and impoundments, we provide a safe environment for families to fish. We also give fishermen the thrill of their lifetime, because the barramundi in those areas will grow to significant length and size. It really gives you a buzz to catch one of these trophy fish with a barramundi of a lifetime.
Excess barramundi fingerlings provide additional fishing opportunities for Territorians and tourists alike. The Territory is well known for its fishing opportunities and capabilities, and that is the reason why so many people from down south and overseas come to the Territory to spend a fishing holiday.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The commercial barramundi farming industry is a success story for the Territory. Production this year has reached 700 tonnes, more than the wild catch. In the last year, we have seen an increase in production of 300% at the two farms at Adelaide River and Port Hurd at Bathurst Island.
Territory barramundi is now well known around the world. Barramundi from the Northern Territory was served at the Danish royal wedding. We export two tonnes of barramundi every week to the United States of America and command really high prices.
In the past few years, barramundi fingerlings have been produced and provided to the industry, but production sometimes exceeds demand. We have produced significant numbers of fingerlings, which remain at the centre as excess barramundi and we decided to restock dams, impoundments, and even Darwin Harbour. At Manton Dam, they have been restocked for a number of years - not very successfully, I might add, because some of the other barramundi swim downstream during the Wet Season. We have now installed a barrier net to stop the large fish migrating. In the past two months, we have stocked 50 000 fingerlings in specific areas where they can shelter from the larger fish. We also restocked 55 000 fingerlings at Lake Bennett, with the agreement of the owners, who will allow day trippers to fish at the lake, and we have provided 16 000 barra fingerlings in the impoundmentnear Mt Todd.
Before we stock a dam or impoundment, the barramundi are tested to make sure they are free from disease, and are always released in the area where the stock came from to ensure the genetic stock remains the same.
Recently, we put 45 000 barra fingerlings into Darwin Harbour to enhance fishing opportunities. By restocking the dams and impoundments, we provide a safe environment for families to fish. We also give fishermen the thrill of their lifetime, because the barramundi in those areas will grow to significant length and size. It really gives you a buzz to catch one of these trophy fish with a barramundi of a lifetime.
Excess barramundi fingerlings provide additional fishing opportunities for Territorians and tourists alike. The Territory is well known for its fishing opportunities and capabilities, and that is the reason why so many people from down south and overseas come to the Territory to spend a fishing holiday.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016